Tried & True Gift Guide for Homebodies, Manly Men & Teenage Boys

updation:) I’m adding in a guide for Manly Men & Teenage Boys too! Scroll down for those…

I absolutely love gift guides and click on everyone I can find. The more niche-y and quirky, the more I like them!

This year I put together a guide for homebodies, because it takes one (me) to know one (you?). Some of these things were on my list last year–why? Because that’s how good they are! Why would I change what I love if I still love it?!

These are all things I use A LOT at my home. I have each and every one of these items (many in multiples) and anyone who’s spent much time at our house can vouch for me. And some of these things you’ll recognize from last year’s gift guide because well, they are just that good…

I started collecting these last year. We use them year around, but in the winter they get used almost daily. The more design on the glass, the more the light will bounce, so I like to group different patterns together. They are a gold color on the inside so they cast a little warm glow.

We light the nine (with tealight candles) in front of our TV every night, and the tea lights last a few hours (we buy them in bulk) and then burn themselves out by the time Elf is over. I’ve found these at HomeGoods, World Market and Target.

My friend Kendra got me hooked on these. At the time, I had purchased one, but it was so thin, I thought I got cheated and I was afraid to wash it for fear that the pretty tassels on the edges would be ruined.

Well, I was all wrong. Washing and drying these towels makes them SO MUCH BETTER! They get more absorbent and the fringing gets full and fluffy! Chad keeps one in his car, this is what we use at the pool and the beach. I’ve purchased these from Amazon, Etsy and HomeGoods and haven’t had a dud yet!

I gifted this one to myself years ago. He steals the show every winter and I believe every room needs some texture. I found mine from One Kings Lane for too much money because mine is not faux, but this faux version looks SO good and has over 500 reviews at 4.5 stars–a winner at only $22!

I use these daily with my iced coffee. I cannot stand those big fat plastic straws that come with the insulated cups. I like my little dainty straw that instantly turns cold. Everyone who comes to the house comments on how great they are!

For no good reason at all other than they are adorable! These show up in my instagram, tied to gifts, sitting on the top of a frame on the gallery wall, on shelves. They are just a tiny delight and are less than $1 each.

I’m still a fan. I didn’t start painting my nails until a few years ago, and this top coat extends the life of my bad polish job (and covers imperfections!) to last a good week! I don’t even use the nail polish that they sell with it, I use my own brands and colors and use this top coat over that. You’ll get a gel-like finish, but you can use regular nail polish remover on it!

My current favorite coloring book. If you are hosting a Christmas gathering, be sure to have a coloring book and some makers around for kids of all ages, I let everyone rip out whatever page they want to color so we can all share.

YES. These crackle as they burn and last forever. Last year I got smart and bought two of the evergreen scent. One I packed away with our Christmas decor and I was WAY too excited to find it when I opened the decorations last week–I think I’m going to do that for myself again this year! You can buy them online, but they are SO much less expensive if you can find them at HomeGoods/Marshalls/TJmaxx.

If you took either of the Cozy Minimalist Courses and enjoyed them, we made it easy for you to give one or both of them as a gift. Or maybe you’ve been wanting to take the courses–now you can ask for them for Christmas and it’s really simple–just say that you want this for Christmas. Check it all out right here.

The classes are above the $25 price range, but consider them an investment in your home!

You asked for Chad’s recommendations for man gifts (like he did last year) so I’m adding this one in too, just like the homebody guide, he owns ALL of these things and uses them a lot.

Oh my gosh this was a Christmas gift from Greg & Caroline and Chad and I are both 8 years old and couldn’t wait until Christmas to open our gifts and now this is on his favorite things list. His poor beard has never been oiled before this week and Chad is suspiciously happy about having more manly grooming products.

I think he goes through three pair of these per year. He’s asleep on the sofa right now and these shoes are on his feet. Vintagey feel plus comfort plus he usually gets a different color every time he orders just to keep things fresh, yet predictable.

I leave nail polish around the house, the dog leaves tennis balls around the house, the boys leave their shoes around the house and Chad leaves freakers around the house. They fit over water bottles and of course, beer bottles.

Okay, lastly how about a gift guide for teenage boys–because we have THREE of them (14, 15 & 18) we are the experts!

This summer our family watched every season of Lost on Netflix. We were SO addicted and it was so fun. The boys found this encyclopedia and it’s EXHAUSTIVE with backstories,photos, birthdays and ‘facts’ about all the characters and everything you ever want to know about Lost.

I LOVE when I pack up items for the holidays – and forget I purchased them. It’s always like an early holiday gift to find a candle or ornament or SOMETHING you forgot you purchased!!! I need to get more of these Wood Wick candles, they are the best!

I love your lists! I am glad you said that the Turkish towels get better after washing! I bought some not too long ago and thought I was robbed, not what I pictured… So I put them away and haven’t used them! Now I will promptly wash them and hopefully not regret the purchase any longer!:) ~Kim

Nester,
Your candle comment reminds me how my wife and I pick up Christmas things at big discounts to pack up for next year and how exciting it is to unpack them then. Some of the candles are on the Christmas discount shelves but are great scents for the winter season. Something to enjoy after things have slowed down.
rick

Sounds funny, but the best thing my husband ever bought me and if I had a gift guide I would put it at the top, was a heated mattress pad. LOL LOVED it so much that when we upgraded this year from a queen size to a king size mattress he went out and bought me a new one for it! It is my Christmas present this year, but I got to open it early!

Does anyone know how to temove lint from turkish towels? I bought dark gray ones and washed twice and put in dryer on low heat but they left fibers on my kids skin after a bath
Now I am rewashing and will hang dry. I googled it and cant find any info!